Whooping Crane Making Predictions: Baby Boom Coming? Cranes reach breeding age when they are 4 or 5 years old. They normally lay two eggs, but usually only one chick survives. Look carefully at the chart below and answer the following questions: In which year did the whooping cranes produce the most babies? In which year will these babies first start reproducing? In which year would you expect these babies to first produce a significant number of young? When these young start reproducing, assuming their winter food is doing well, what do you assume will happen to the population? Winter Season Adults Young Total 1995-96 130 28 159 1996-97 144 16 160 1997-98 152 30 182 1998-99 165 18 183 1999-00 171 17 188 2000-01 171 9 180 2001-02 161 15 176 2002-03 169 16 185 National Science Education Standards Plants and animals have life cycles that include being born, developing into adults, reproducing, and eventually dying. Journey North is pleased to feature this educational adventure made possible by the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP). Facebook Pinterest Twitter © 1997 – 2019 Journey North. All rights reserved.